Representive, What does it mean?

 

 

 What does it mean to represent?

rep·re·sent

verb

  1. be entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone), especially in an official capacity.

“for purposes of litigation, an infant can and must be represented by an adult”

synonyms: appear for, act for, speak on behalf of;

informal go to bat for

“her lawyer represented her in court”

As an AP representative you represent Alison’s Pantry, when a customer conducts business with you, it’s as if they are conducting business with Alison herself. What responsibility does this place for you as a representative?  Here are just a few of the most important responsibilities a representative should demonstrate while conducting business as an AP representative.

 

  1. To promote and sell AP products and to provide each consumer with the Alison’s Pantry 100% Satisfaction Guarantee* and to promptly honor it upon request.
  2. To maintain the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and responsibility in dealings with the company, consumers, and other representatives, and to offer the highest customer service to customers.
  3. To provide the customers with high quality AP products and deliver properly stored and handled AP products. Delivering frozen/ refrigerated products as received from the truck and as the customer purchased. If products mistakenly thaw before delivery to customer is completed, it will be the responsibility of the representative to pay for the replacement to the customer.
  4. To provide truthful and accurate information to customers and potential customers regarding AP products and provide advice, answer questions, and teach customers how to use the products using product information and educational tools approved and provided by the company for use by AP representatives. Provide contact information to customers allowing them to contact their rep in the event they have a question about a product or product purchase.

 

A couple of months ago two situations regarding frozen items arose, the first one was a rep that had her freezer quit without her knowing for a week, of course the food was UN-salvageable. Not only was she not able to get the products to the customers that had ordered them, but she was responsible to cover the loss of the products, causing a financial strain on her business.  Once a representative receives delivery of the items from the warehouse or off the truck, it becomes their financial responsibility, another reason why orders should be delivered as soon as possible.

The other example has to do with a rep that was not mindful of a customers’ order and didn’t take proper care of the food.  Upon delivery the customer received thawed and soggy frozen items, she was not very pleased and ended up notifying the AP office of the situation. This person is no longer a representative for AP. Conducting business this way is a reflection on the company and will not be accepted. Not only is it not in keeping with our policies, it is not helping to build the customers’ trust and relationship with AP.

Of course, these examples are not the normal experience in Alison’s Pantry, generally our representatives  go above and beyond in caring and servicing their customers. We appreciate your hard work and effort in building up your business and the name of the company you represent.   As has been said before, customer satisfaction keeps your customers coming back and ordering again and again.    This is just a reminder to take a look at your own business practices, If you aren’t giving 110% now is the time to make a change.

 

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*AP offers a 100% money-back guarantee on everything we sell. Starting with Catalog #10, 2018, we will offer a Double Your Money Back guarantee for the first 3 months and 100% guarantee for the next 3 months (excluding Hot Deals, Pantry Bargains, and #2 products which will only have a 100% money back guarantee). If your customer is not pleased with an item, all they need to do is return the unused portion to you within 6 months of purchasing it and then you will request a refund from the office. The office will issue a refund for the cost of the product and any sales tax paid to the account of the customer that purchased the product. *Shipping is not refunded.

 

August Webinar

webinar9

We hope you enjoyed our August Webinar! Thanks to all that came!

Here are the recipes and other printables that were used in the presentations.

Webinar #9 recipes.pdf

If you’re in the market for an Instant Pot, we’ve partnered to offer you special savings as an Alison’s Pantry customer. Use APSAVE10 to save $10 at this link: http://bit.ly/2n7vU2u

Be sure and join us for our next webinar on October 9th, 10th & 11th.

LeAnn Caraway, Williston, ND

Hi! I am LeAnn Carraway and I am an Alison’s Pantry Rep in Williston, ND. I have four children of my own and seven step children plus four foster children right now. It’s impossible to get all of them together so this is a picture of myself and my youngest, Skye. My oldest daughter, Casey, is an Alison’s Pantry Rep too.

I started selling Alison’s Pantry about four years ago and enjoy it immensely. I had been a customer for many years previously, so I already knew that I loved the products. The flexibility of being your own boss works well with my busy schedule. For instance, I entered orders yesterday while enjoying the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD!

Reminding customers that it is time to order is probably the best tip for making a successful order. Many of my customers would forget to order if not for the reminders. It takes a little extra time but it works well for me. I am always selling Alison’s Pantry products as I prepare them when serving meals for family and extended family at our home.

Well, that’s it for now, I’m off to have some fun in Sturgis!

 

Monthly Marketing Helps: Catalogs 9 and 10

Retaining current customers and growing your sales is easy if you use these helpful tools each month!

Marketing Focus

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It’s hard to believe we’re talking about autumn already!  This season of crisp temperatures and pumpkin spice everything is one of our favorites. 

 

 

 

 


 

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During Catalogs #9 & 10, we’re focusing on helping families enjoy fast and easy meals from our catalogs. Be an expert on simplifying mealtime! Help your customers stock up on comfort foods, and introduce them to our fun assortment of new products.  Want some fresh ideas to reach your customers,  check out these tips compiled from Reps on our recent webinar.


 

Sample Suggestions

Suggested Products for Sampling During Catalog #9 & 10:

Allowing your customers to sample products can really help your sales!  Here are a few products that we suggest sampling or displaying to help your fall sales:

  • Frozen Soup Supreme or Blount Soups.  Heartland Chicken Noodle, Cheddar Broccoli Cheese, and Cream of Potato are some of our most popular flavors.
  • USA Pans. Treat yourself to at least one of these premium pans so you can display it for your customers to show them the excellent quality. They are worth every penny (and they’re made in the USA!!).  They are our favorite baking pans and we’re so excited to be sharing them with AP customers.
  • If your customers are coffee-drinkers, our new Alison’s Pantry Premium Ground Coffee Blends will make an easy and welcome product to sample.  If they aren’t, our new Dick & Jane Educational Snack Crackers are absolutely delicious and a great product to sample for a back-to-school lunchbox idea.

Products Leaving

Please remember to let customers know about the products that will be leaving our catalogs after #10 when the new list is posted. Be sure to check this link to see which products will be unavailable after Catalog #10.  Then you can share this information with your customers so they can stock up on personal favorites before they leave the catalog.


Text Scripts

Duplicate this text script and send to your customers to round up better orders.  We’ve included shortened links to make it easier for you.

Copy for Catalog #9…

Today is your Alison’s Pantry Catalog #9 order deadline.  Did you see our new products for fall baking? Commercial grade, made-in-the-USA baking pans, Guittard chocolate, and yummy back to school snacks. So.much.fun!!

Enjoy easy shopping with our FlipBook: https://bit.ly/2LVYShV

Copy for Catalog #10…

Today is your Alison’s Pantry Catalog #10 order deadline. Don’t miss out on this sale on a popular AP product: #8555 Milford Valley Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese Entrees–Reg. $36.99 Sale $27.99 on page 15!

Find these and other products to make your meals easier in our FlipBook: https://bit.ly/2w4gKgi


 


Marketing Images

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Click here for our Catalog #9 marketing images, including the one at right.  We’ve done the work so you don’t have to!  Download these beautiful images and post them to your social media accounts or add them to your marketing emails.

Click here for our Catalog #10 marketing images, including the one below).

Meals in Minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Catalog Shortlinks

You can copy and paste the links below in your own personalized texts or emails to customers to link them directly to the current catalog.

Catalog #9 PDF: https://bit.ly/2LWJ0LL

       Catalog #9 Flipbook: https://bit.ly/2LVYShV

Catalog #10 PDF: https://bit.ly/2CMS0iu

Catalog #10 Flipbook: https://bit.ly/2w4gKgi

 


email-tag

We’ll be sending a last call reminder email, similar to the one below, to all customers on our email lists the Saturday before their order deadline.  Many customers are not on our list though, so it’s a great idea to copy the info below and send it on to your customer list.

Copy for Catalog #9…

Pumpkin spice and everything nice!

More reasons to fall in love with the best season of the year.

Crisp air and crunchy leaves, sweaters, football, apples, hot cocoa, and pumpkin spice everything.  There is so much to love about autumn! It was hard to find any way to make this season any better, but we think you’re going to like what we came up with–fabulous new baking tools and ingredients to make it even more fun to be in the kitchen this fall.

Don’t forget to stock up on comforting soups, proof-and-bake breads, and other cozy foods from Catalog #9 before Monday night when orders close for this month.  Plus, pumpkin cake rollsred velvet cake rolls, and cheesecakes are back from The Father’s Table.  Quantities are limited, though, so don’t wait to add your favorites to your cart.

Commercial quality, made in the USA pan for perfect mini cupcakes and muffins.
$22.99
Order Mini Muffin Pan»

See more of the best pans we’ve ever baked with:
Brownie Bite Pan
Lasagna Pan
Mini Fluted Cupcake Pan
Mini Loaf Pan
Texas Muffin Pan
BARE Loaf Pan

NEW Guittard Semisweet Maxi Chips, 2.5 lb. Bag

Bigger drops of premium semisweet chocolate for more in each bite!

$10.99 

Order Semisweet Maxi Chips »
See all NEW Guittard Chocolates »

Soup Supreme Cream of Potato Soup

$11.99 
Order Cream of Potato Soup »
Shop all Soups »


Copy for Catalog #10…

There’s still time to pre-order holiday favorites…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but only a few more days!  Catalog #10 orders are wrapping up, and I want to make sure you don’t miss out on anything. Here’s a cheat sheet to make sure your order is complete this weekend:


 

Meet Sherry Winckel- Marysvale, UT

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My name is Sherry Winckel and I have been selling Alison’s Pantry for the past 12 years.  I started selling to help my young family. I wanted more than anything to be a stay at home mom to my two young kids.  I also wanted to contribute to our household.  I investigated many things to sell but in the end Alison’s Pantry was the winner. I have loved working for Alison’s Pantry. Now it is a family business.  My younger kids help deliver catalogs and my older kids help deliver orders.  Everyone helps unload the truck.  My kids (and husband) get very excited when they unload an item they want to eat and sad when I tell them that is not part of our personal order. I love being able to bring Alison’s Pantry products to not only my table but the table of my friends and family.  Alison’s Pantry has brought many people into my life who came as “customers” but now I count them as friends and for that I am grateful.  When I am not working on selling Alison’s Pantry I am busy driving my four kids to every sport you can imagine.  They keep me running and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

On a side note… This past week’s rains in Southern Utah has played havoc on the homes of the communities. While they need the rain and water, it all seems to come at once and the ground can not contain it. On the day of this publishing, Sherry was organizing a luncheon for all the helpers in the flooded Marysvale community. Even though Sherry’s own home was flooded and filled with mud, she was helping to alleviate the hungry bellies of the workers. “I had some pulled pork in the freezer, advertised on FB that if someone could get buns, we could do sandwiches and it took off.  We had so much food and donations from lots of people. Not only Marysvale, but Richfield and Circleville as well. People are just good you know. We fed a lot of people for lunch and are going to do dinner with the leftovers plus a new batch of stuff that came in from a big donation we got from the boys/girls ranch (boys ranch is super flooded as well).” We applaud you Sherry for going the extra mile and being a great example. We are happy to have you represent our company.

Shellie Christensen – Douglas, WY

Hi, my name is Shellie Christensen. I live in Douglas, WY, with my husband Robert and the last 2 of our 6 children, Hunter 16 and Heather 15.

I have been buying Alison’s Pantry products since 2011 and when the current rep in Douglas started looking for a replacement, she asked if I would be interested in taking over. I discussed it with my husband and we decided to do it together. So, we started selling in October 2017. I enjoy working with customers and my husband does an amazing job receiving the truck and doing inventory. Then the whole family helps with order pickup and delivery! It has been a great opportunity for our family to be able to work together and for my husband and I to teach our children customer service with the public.

Contact each month is so important. When we took over the Douglas area, even though there was a current list of customers, many had not been contacted in a very long time. I have found that making sure each person receives a catalog and knows the order deadline has a great impact on a successful order. I also send out multiple reminders and make calls up to the order deadline. I have customers that prefer texting and others that want a phone call. It’s my job to know this and contact them in whatever form they are most comfortable. Customer service is key with Alison’s Pantry. The products are amazing, and they don’t need any help in selling but if the customer has a bad experience trying to get the product they won’t try again. My family works hard to be flexible for our customers when orders are ready to be picked up. We have some customers that are unable to pick up their orders, so they were worried about placing an order. We assured them that delivering an order was no problem and it has worked out great!

Every day there is at least one thing in each meal we eat that comes from Alison’s Pantry! The vegetables are a staple for us and we always have a good choice stocked in the freezer. My husband loves to grill, and the bacon wrapped pork chops, chicken tenders, and hamburgers are favorites for our family. I would also be lost without my bag of Shirley J Universal Sauce. It is the base of many of my family’s favorite sauces and gravies!

A great way my husband and I get to know our customers is by asking them at pickup about their order. What they like about the products they purchased and how they prepare them. It also helps us when we are asked about something in the catalog we haven’t tried yet. We can tell them what another customer has liked about it and how they use it.

My family is really enjoying the experience of working together representing a great product! Thank you, Alison’s Pantry!